THE Royal Berkshire Hospital is running its annual Christmas Gift Tree Appeal, seeking support from locals to ensure every patient receives a gift on Christmas Day.

Despite the lingering challenges brought by Covid-19, the team have returned to having collection boxes across the community, as well as the successful Amazon wish list from last year.

This is the final push before Christmas, with gifts able to be dropped off at the main reception of the hospital on Craven Road, or these libraries: Reading Central, Lower Earley, Caversham, Woodley, Pangbourne or Theale, or the Link Café in Tilehurst.

Please ensure all unwrapped gifts are delivered by Tuesday, 14 December so the team have time to sort, wrap and send presents to the wards by Christmas Day.

Reading Chronicle:

Above: Royal Berkshire Hospital staff 

The Trust's Voluntary Services manager, Kirsten Rogers, believes that the pandemic has highlighted the generosity of the local community.

She said: “Covid-19 has just emphasised to me the incredible kindness and generosity of our local community and how we have been able to achieve great things together during these difficult times.

“The ‘Gift Tree’ is another lovely opportunity for people to support the Trust and to bring joy to patients and wards on Christmas Day.

“A gift kindly donated by someone in your local community can make a patient’s day.

“We aim to collect over 800 gifts to ensure every patient receives a present and we hope our amazing residents and businesses will support us again, as they have before, in achieving this goal.”

Popular gifts for older patients include biscuits, books and toiletries while potential ideas for younger patients could be toys or colouring books.

Click here to view the Amazon wish list.